SH.SG – Singapore based full featured URL Shortener

SH.SG - Full Featured URL Shortener made in Singapore

When one thinks of URL shortener, BITLY comes to mind. While BITLY has been a reliable, mostly free service, there are limitations.

But wait. Why do you need a URL shortener?

  • Long URLs doesn’t look good.

This is a no brainer. Would you like a link like http://sg.iherb.com/now-foods-essential-oils-lemon-eucalyptus-1-fl-oz-30-ml/3329?rcode=rfc074 OR https://sh.sg/iherb ?

  • Stop referencing “link in bio” on Instagram

Many instagrammers make reference to “link in bio” because they can’t post a link on the post level. However, this means that the latest post will always hog the link in the bio, rendering referencing in previous posts useless. With a shortened URL, simply put the link in the post. Viewers don’t mind typing out the link in the browser if it is short enough.

  • You want to hide the destination URL

Not that you have malicious intent but maybe you just want to keep the destination link a mystery until it gets clicked.

  • You want to redirect users based on their country

There are times when you want to send visitors from different countries to a different link. For example, a Singapore visitor may be directed to your Singapore site and the rest will be sent to the international site. This can be done by some link shortener services.

  • You want to redirect users based on their device type

Want to link to your mobile app but there’s only space for one link? Redirect users to the Google Play Store or Apple App Store based on their device type. i.e. iPhone users get automatically redirected to your app on the Apple App Store. Amazing? Try this demo link: https://sh.sg/msa

  • You need a placeholder link for your email/website campaigns and have the freedom to redirect it to the final link when it is ready.

Your developer or web designer needs the actual URL for an upcoming campaign but you don’t have it ready. Give them the shortened URL with a dummy destination link and then update the destination link later! But beware, some shortener services doesn’t not allow you to amend the link unless you’re on a paid plan!

  • You want to set an expiry date for a link

Set an expiry date for your shortened link so that it no longer redirects when your campaign ends. Lots of use cases for this!

  • You want to add a simple password protection to the link

I wouldn’t recommend this to be the only protection for your destination link but it is useful to have this feature to avoid having people snooping on your shortened link to your home VPN / private links.

Need a recommendation? Introducing SH.SG, a Singapore based, full featured URL Shortener.

There is a free tier with limited features but the paid plans are really cheap too, starting from as low as S$1.33 / month!

Features:

Shortest domain name ?

With only 2 letters (excluding TLD), SH.SG is one of the shortest domain names you can get in Singapore.

.SG TLD ?

A Singapore based TLD provides more relevance when you are redirecting to a Singapore website.

Custom Aliases ?

Instead of https://sh.sg/AeXd4, our paying users get to choose their own custom alias e.g. https://sh.sg/iherb

Link Expiration ?

You can set an expiration date to stop redirecting users. This is useful for time-sensitive pages such as promotions and other limited offers.

Password Protection ?

Want to allow redirection only for authorised user? Want an extra layer of security? Password protection feature is available for everyone!

Geotargeting ?

This option allows you

Device Targeting ?

Set conditions so that, for example, iPhone users get redirected to a specific link and Android users, another. You can use this to send iOS users to an Apple App Store link to your app and for Android users, to your Google Play Store app.

Targeting Pixels ?

Allows you to use Facebook Pixels

Parameter Builder ?

You can add custom parameters to the link above using this tool. Choose the parameter name and then assign a value. These will be added during redirection.

Try it now >> SH.SG – Singapore URL Shortener

Cloning a Banapassport Card

I recently spoke to a client who wanted me to try to help him clone his “Arcade Card”. I immediately rejected him as I wasn’t into illegal stuff like cloning stored value cards. Besides, I was highly doubtful that modern stored value cards are that easily duplicated. He went on to explain that the card has no stored value and was simply sort of an identification card for the Wangan Midnight series of racing games in the arcade. The card authenticates the user to his/her Banapassport account which stores the cars acquired through the game. 

After speaking to a few players, I found out that the common reasons why they would want to clone their original cards are:

  • Convenience. The Banapassport card can now exist also in the form of a key tag or even sticker. Hanging the key tags with your other keys seems like a great idea. 
  • Backup. While players with Banapassport cards that are properly linked to their email address can recover the data in the event of the loss of the original card, there is a cost involved as a new original card needs to be obtained. Also, if the player’s Banapassport card is not linked to an irrecoverable account, there is no way to recover the data. Having a physical clone will solve the problem. 
  • Security. Leaving the original card at home and only going to the arcade with the generic looking cloned tag makes it unlikely that anyone knows what the tag is for if it gets lost. 
  • Sharing. While one cannot log in to two machines simultaneously, two or more players who are not staying close to each other can each hold on to a card/tag to play at different times. 

After doing some research, I managed to crack the keys and successfully clone a Banapassport card into a generic RFID key tag:

 

Interested? Head over to Carousell : Banapassport Card Cloning

What happens to your Facebook account after you die?

Social media has allowed us to know of more deaths around us than ever before. So much so that we start to think if the death rate of human beings has increased. Have you ever wondered what happens to your Facebook account after you die? Facebook’s policy on this may change over time but as of now, there are a few possible scenarios:

  • No one has access to your account and no one put up a memoralisation request to Facebook

This is the least ideal situation. Your account sits in limbo. Acquaintances who don’t know of your passing might still post Happy Birthday wishes to your timeline yearly making your family and friends cringe and face palm every single time.

  • You die and your significant other/ family member has access to your password / access to an open session of your Facebook

This is really not the best way to maintain your account after you’re gone. It’s very freaky to have new posts coming from a deceased person. The correct way is to get your Facebook profile memoralised.

  • You die and your significant other / family member knows how to contact Facebook to memoralise your account 

This is good but without a legacy contact, Facebook has no one to hand over (limited) control of your Facebook profile.

  • You die and your nominated legacy contact helps to memoralise and manage your Facebook account

If you do not want to disappear from Facebook upon passing, this is the best way to handle things. Your legacy contact will get limited access to manage your Facebook profile. Read on to find out more about legacy contacts.

  • You die and Facebook deactivates your profile once they are notified of your death.

You have final say on whether you want your Facebook account to be around after your passing. Once you have made this decision, no one else (even your legacy contact) can override this decision. The only exception is if someone has your login credentials and goes in to turn off this setting before Facebook gets notified of your death. For this to work, someone must report your death to Facebook. Otherwise, your account remains active. Having a legacy contact whom you have briefed to inform Facebook about your passing as soon as possible will greatly hasten the process to execute your wish to deactivate your profile once you are no longer around.

Legacy Contact

Facebook introduced a feature that allows you to nominate a legacy contact who will manage your Facebook profile when you’re gone. This person will not be able to logon to your account. read your private message, compose new posts or initiate friend requests but can do the following:

  • Change your profile and cover photos
  • Pin a post to your timeline that can include a final message from you, provide information for the wake/funeral/memorial service, etc (Your setting must allow people to post to your timeline for this to work!)
  • Accept friend requests. Initiating friend requests to others from your profile is not possible for obvious reasons.
  • Request deactivation of your Facebook profile

How to nominate a Facebook legacy contact?

Go to your Facebook settings by clicking on the down arrow on the top right corner of your Facebook page and choose Settings (The way to get there may change over time as Facebook updates their user interface)

Facebook Legacy contact

From there, choose Manage Account and you will see the full settings. You can optionally allow your legacy contact to download a copy of your Facebook data and/or request to deactivate your account when you die instead of memoralising it.

Facebook Legacy contact

How to memoralise the profile of someone who passed away?

Click here to fill up the form: Facebook Memoralisation Request Form